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Teton County Commissioner District 3

There are no Primary contests for this position.

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    Emma Ray
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

1. What are the most important challenges facing your county and how do you propose to address them?

2. What specific qualifications do you have to effectively address these challenges?

3. How will you continue to be engaged with your constituents?

I think the biggest challenge for Teton Valley is how to remain the strong, rural community we all know and love, considering the immense growth and change we’re experiencing. We're strongest when our workforce can live here, our children have the care they need, our natural resources like water and wildlife are protected, and local businesses and farms thrive. All of these ideals present challenges in our beloved valley where life is getting less affordable all the time. As a county we need to continue to support the work of partners like Teton Valley Housing, implement key plans like our Economic Development Plan and Transportation Plan, and seek input from all community stakeholders about our future direction.
I’m a former Teton High School teacher and have been a full-time mom for the past year. I currently serve on the boards of Teton Valley Housing and Teton Valley Community Recycling, and I work for a local farm. I’m invested in the community and I have a fresh, first-hand perspective on what it takes to make a life in Teton Valley today. Being a county commissioner is a taxpayer-funded job that should be taken seriously. I have the time, not only to show up prepared for meetings, but also to collaborate with our local and regional partners and advocate for our community at the state level. My experience in education and nonprofits, combined with my compassion and community mindset, have prepared me to be an effective listener and leader.
There are many people in Teton Valley who care deeply about the community and are simply too busy–commuting, working, raising families, or otherwise–to stay informed about what’s happening in our local government, let alone to form an opinion and somehow make it heard. I love the incredible opportunity this presents. I believe people should leave a conversation with an elected official feeling energized about what’s possible at the local level. I envision this happening in a variety of settings, from one-on-one conversations to small-group seminars or roundtables, in addition to more traditional events like town halls and public work sessions. The goal is to create a variety of entry points to civic engagement, with something for everyone.